Inquisition

A court instituted to inquire into offences against the Roman
Catholic religion. Fully established by Pope Gregory IX. in 1235. It
was most active in Italy, Spain, and Portugal. Those found guilty were
handed over to the secular arm to be dealt with according to the
secular laws of the land. Suppressed in France in 1772, and not finally
in Spain till 1834. (Latin, inquisitio, a searching into.)